Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are credit review services in the UAE?
A: Credit review services provide independent credit assessment, portfolio review, credit risk analysis, IFRS 9 modelling, and credit policy advisory to UAE banks, finance companies, corporates, and SME lenders.
Q: Who uses credit review services in the UAE?
A: UAE banks reviewing credit portfolios, finance companies assessing SME lending books, corporates managing counterparty credit risk, and treasury teams advising on credit policy and governance frameworks.
Q: What is the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB)?
A: AECB is the UAE federal credit bureau providing centralised credit information infrastructure, supporting credit assessment, lending decisions, and credit review activities across the UAE financial services ecosystem.
Q: Does credit review require regulatory approval?
A: Credit review services under this activity code does not require third-party approval. Providers offer independent advisory services without performing regulated lending, rating, or audit activities.
Q: What is IFRS 9 credit review?
A: IFRS 9 is the international accounting standard governing expected credit loss (ECL) measurement on financial instruments. Credit review providers support banks with ECL modelling, validation, and stress testing under IFRS 9.
How to Start a Credit Review Services Business with Meydan Free Zone
UAE credit review services support banks, finance companies, lenders, and corporates with independent credit assessment, portfolio review, credit risk analysis, and credit policy advisory across retail, SME, and corporate lending portfolios.
With UAE banking sector assets exceeding USD 1 trillion per Central Bank of the UAE1 and AECB (Al Etihad Credit Bureau) providing the federal credit information infrastructure, credit review specialists support lenders with portfolio diagnostics, credit policy design, and ongoing credit risk advisory. Statista2 projects UAE Financial Advisory at USD 186.73 billion in 2025. A provider in this activity offers credit review services to UAE banks, finance companies, and corporate credit clients on a fee or contract basis.
Liv., Mashreq Neo, Wio, YAP. The UAE has built one of the world's most active digital banking environments, and CBUAE defines who plays in it.
Sources: Central Bank of the UAE (2025); Statista (2025)
Three dynamics define the UAE opportunity for credit review services providers. Start with banking scale. UAE banking assets exceed USD 1 trillion per Central Bank of the UAE1 data, with major banks like FAB, Emirates NBD, ADCB, DIB, and Mashreq running large credit portfolios across retail, SME, and corporate segments. Al Etihad Credit Bureau provides the federal credit infrastructure underpinning assessment across the lending ecosystem.
Client mandates are diverse, covering bank portfolio reviews, IFRS 9 expected credit loss modelling, stress testing, credit policy and governance, corporate counterparty assessment, and SME underwriting support. Positioning supports specialist niches like IFRS 9 advisory, stress testing, corporate credit review, SME lending diagnostics, and governance frameworks. With Statista2 projecting UAE Financial Advisory at USD 213.10 billion by 2030, providers combining credit expertise, analytics, and independent positioning are well placed to scale.
Whether you are providing bank credit portfolio review and IFRS 9 modelling support, advising corporates on counterparty credit risk and trade credit policy, or supporting finance companies with SME credit assessment and policy advisory, this activity covers the credit review services layer.
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Who is this for?
- Bank credit portfolio review specialists: Service providers offering bank credit portfolio review, asset quality assessment, IFRS 9 expected credit loss modelling, stress testing, and credit policy advisory to UAE banks and finance companies.
- Corporate credit and counterparty advisors: Service providers supporting UAE corporates with counterparty credit risk assessment, trade credit policy advisory, treasury credit risk frameworks, and credit committee process design.
- SME credit assessment and policy specialists: Service providers supporting UAE finance companies and lenders with SME credit assessment, portfolio diagnostics, collection strategy advisory, and credit underwriting support across SME lending portfolios.
Meydan Free Zone offers 100% foreign ownership, zero corporate tax on qualifying income, and a fully digital licensing process, positioning credit review services providers at the centre of a market where UAE banking scale, AECB credit infrastructure, sustained lending growth, and demand for independent credit assessment anchor sustained advisory activity across retail, SME, and corporate credit portfolios.
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6619.98: Credit Review Services
Under this activity, you are licensed to provide credit review services (bank credit portfolio review and IFRS 9 modelling, corporate counterparty credit advisory, or SME credit assessment and policy advisory).
However, this activity has defined boundaries. It excludes the activities of insurance agents and brokers (which falls under activities auxiliary to insurance and pension funding), and the management of investment funds (which falls under fund management activities).
To be clear: if you provide credit review services to UAE banks, finance companies, corporates, or SME lenders on portfolio review, policy, or counterparty credit, you are in.
Licensing & Compliance
Third-Party Approval: No third-party approval is required for this business activity.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance: This business activity is exempt from AML compliance requirements.
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Citations
¹ Central Bank of the UAE. Banking and Financial Statistics; Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB) Framework. Central Bank of the UAE, 2025.
² Statista. Financial Advisory - United Arab Emirates. Statista, 2025.
